Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcanumbi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Balcanumbi’, characterized by its medium pink, dark red-purple and yellow tricolored flowers with the yellow coloration forming a central star pattern, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Calibrachoa x hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balcanumbi’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant botanically, known as Calibrachoa x hybrida andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balcanumbi’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in ArroyoGrande, Calif. during March 2014. The objective of the breeding programwas the development of Calibrachoa cultivars with unique flowercoloration and mounded-trailing growth habit.

The new Calibrachoa cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. Thefemale (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Calibrachoahybrida breeding selection coded PN10583-2, not patented, characterizedby its medium orange-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, andmoderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit. The male (pollen)parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Calibrachoa hybridabreeding selection coded PN10645-2, not patented, characterized by itsmedium purple-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, andmoderately vigorous, mounded growth habit. The new cultivar wasdiscovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progenyof the above stated cross-pollination during August 2014 in a controlledenvironment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceAugust 2014 in Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balcanumbi’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Medium pink, dark red-purple and yellow tricolored flowers        with the yellow coloration forming a central star pattern;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female and maleparents primarily in having a different flower color and flower colorpattern, and in having increased growth vigor.

Of the many commercially available Calibrachoa cultivars, the mostsimilar in comparison to the new cultivar is SUPERBELLS Evening Star‘USCAL42202’ U.S. Pat. No. 9,313,959 and U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,008.However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differfrom plants of ‘USCAL42202’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color that is        different, from plants of ‘USCAL42202’, as plants of        ‘USCAL42202’ have violet-colored flowers with a dark purple        center and a yellow-colored star pattern, and plants of the new        cultivar have medium pink-colored flowers with a dark red-purple        center and a yellow-colored star pattern; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have larger diameter flowers than        plants of ‘USCAL42202’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balcanumbi’. Theplants were grown in 4.5-inch pots for 9 weeks in a greenhouse in WestChicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch one week after transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balcanumbi’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of‘Balcanumbi’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in February 2017 undernatural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouseunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5-inch pots for 9 weeksutilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch one weekafter transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained atapproximately 66° F. to 70° F. (19° C. to 21° C.) during the day andapproximately 58° F. to 62° F. (14° C. to 17° C.) during the night.Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles weremaintained during the day. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa x hybrida cultivar Balcanumbi.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding            selection coded PN10583-2, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding            selection coded PN10645-2, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 9 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous,            mounded-trailing.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 9.5 cm. Width: Approximately 27.5 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal            branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:            Approximately 5.        -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 14.0 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 9.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent.            Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of young and            mature stems: 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 19. Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.            Arrangement on flowering stem: Alternate.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: At acute angle to stem with tip turning            downward. Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly            acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of            mature leaf: Approximately 3.7 cm. Width of mature leaf:            Approximately 1.2 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Moderately glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless,            transparent. Color of upper surface of young foliage: 137B            with midvein of 144D. Color of lower surface of young            foliage: Closest to 138A with midvein of 138B. Color of            upper surface of mature foliage: 137A with venation of 144A            to indistinguishable. Color of lower surface of mature            foliage: Between 138A and 138B with venation of 138D to            indistinguishable.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Moderately glandular            pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 144A.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balcanumbi’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            5 to 7 days.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Single, salverform. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 10. Fragrance: None detected.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 8.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:            Approximately 1.8 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm.            Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color: Petal portion 155A tinted            with N187D, tube portion 154B, venation of N77A.        -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 3.3 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.            Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse to shallowly knotched. Length            from tube: Approximately 1.2 cm. Length of free portion:            Approximately 5.0 mm, moderate lobing. Width: Approximately            1.5 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower            surface: Glandular pubescent, dense along venation. Gland            color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface when            first and fully open: Upper half of petals N74D with lower            half of N78A and N74A, petal margins of lower half 7B having            the overall appearance of a star pattern, midveins of N82C.            Color of lower surface when first and fully open: 76C with            midveins of N77A. Conspicuousness of venation: Very weak,            only midveins visible.        -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.9 cm. Diameter at            distal end: Approximately 6.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.            Texture of outer surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland            color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner surface: 1A            with weak venation and throat opening of N77A. Color of            outer surface: Lighter than 154C with moderate venation of            N77A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused along lower half.            Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately 1.5 cm            to 1.8 cm. Width: Approximately 4.0 mm to 5.0 mm. Texture of            upper and lower surfaces: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland            color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface: 137A.            Color of lower surface: 138B with base of 144B.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to            stem. Length: Approximately 3.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately            1.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color: 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5,            basifixed. Stamen length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Filament            length of fixed portion: Approximately 5.0 mm. Filament            color: 155A. Anther shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: 8A. Pollen amount:            Abundant. Pollen color: 8C. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1            per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Stigma            shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma            color: 143A. Style length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Style            color: 145D. Ovary diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary            color: 144A.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Calibrachoa has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plantnamed ‘Balcanumbi’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.